Gulfstream Park: Top filly from Puerto Rico scores in Primal Force

The 3-year-old filly Fusaichiswonderful, ridden by John Velazquez, wins her first race since joining Todd Pletcher's barn by 5 3/4 lengths.

Fusaichiswonderful, the star of Puerto Rico as a 2-year-old in 2012, notched her first mainland U.S. win when she rallied to a convincing 5 3/4-length decision over R Free Roll in Friday’s Primal Force Stakes. Grade 1 winner So Many Ways finished third following a poor start as the 3-5 favorite in her 3-year-old debut.

Fusaichiswonderful was unbeaten and untested in five starts and was a Group 1 winner as a 2-year-old in Puerto Rico. Transferred to trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn for her 3-year-old campaign, Fusaichiswonderful, a daughter of Fusaichi Pegasus, suffered her only loss when she finished fourth behind stablemate Kauai Katie in the Grade 2 Forward Gal here earlier this winter.

“I was really, really pleased with her performance,” said Pletcher, who returned to south Florida on the red-eye from California early Saturday morning. “We learned a couple of things about her in her first race that we corrected for this race, and she got a perfect trip from a good post. But still, she delivered a big performance.”

Pletcher said he believes Fusaichiswonderful will stretch out but has nothing specific planned for her next start.